Dallas Mavericks Blog

Fraley: What the Mavs have going for them in brutal 10-game stretch

The Mavericks have crisscrossed the continent to play 45 games in 83 days. There has been precious little rest for an older team that has looked worn out at times.

And now comes the really tough portion of the schedule.

A Saturday night date against San Antonio at American Airlines Center starts a stretch that will reveal much about the Mavericks, including whether the defending NBA champions will return to the playoffs. This will be the first of 10 consecutive games against strong clubs that currently would qualify for the playoffs.

The positive for the Mavericks during this period is they will play these games under almost normal NBA conditions. They will have at least one day off before eight of the games with puddle-jumper travel on the two back-to-backs: San Antonio to Houston, Miami to Houston.